Page 64 of The Wicked Love

But I wouldn’t have done it if Cal wasn’t right there. I might have taken it a little too far, but if I’m going to keep this charade up about me claiming Cade, then it needs to look real.

My stomach rumbles, and I can almost taste pad thai on my tongue. Grabbing dinner with Dad has almost become a tradition since Mom passed. Other than late-night dad-daughter dinner dates, we don’t spend much time together.

Kicking my Valentino boots off, I walk down the main corridor of our house to my dad’s office.

I run through what I’m going to say in my head.I’m sorry for being a raging bitch. I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean a word of it.

I rap my knuckles on the door, knocking to a beat, and I wait for his knock on his desk to answer back. It’s almost like a code. I knock the first part, and he answers, letting me in.

But it stays silent.

“Dad?” I knock again.

No response.

I slowly turn the handle. “Daaad?” I sing. “Look, I know you’re probably still mad.” I slowly start pushing the door open. “I didn’t mean what I said earlier, and I’m really sorry. I just miss you—a lot. And I miss her a lot, and I wish I didn’t look like her so much. I know it upsets you. I just love you an—”

Deadly chills carve their way down my body.

And a scene from a horror film unfolds in front of my eyes.

My world stops.

My thoughts stop.

My heart stops.

My knees bend.

My hands fly, covering my mouth.

Pain as I crash to the floor.

Red.

My lungs die.

My eyes catch fire.

Red everywhere.

My body goes to him while my mind remains frozen.

Red.

Cool metal lies on the ground.

My hands wrap around his cheeks.

A scream.

Red.

Covers my palms.

A scream.

Covers the wall.